The Italian Government and businesses have highly evaluated Vietnam’s policy on open and free trade, said Italian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Ivan Scalfarotto.

The Italian official made the comment when he was received by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi on November 28. He is visiting Vietnam to attend the 4th session of the Vietnam-Italy Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation.

PM Phuc applauded the success of the 4th session of the Vietnam-Italy Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation and the Vietnam-Italy Business Forum, and recommended the two countries intensify economic and trade cooperation in a bid to lift up bilateral trade.

While suggesting Italian firms increase investments in Vietnam, PM Phuc said the Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for Italian investors.

He listed a number of spheres for bilateral cooperation, including tourism, green technology, transport, and infrastructure and stressed the need to open a direct air route between the two nations.

PM Phuc urged both sides work closely to implement the 2017-2018 action plan on strategic partnership, continue organising strategic diplomatic and defence dialogues, and carry out activities marking 45 years of diplomatic ties.

The PM said Vietnam expects Italy to help speed up the EU’s signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Scalfarotto said his delegation included 130 businessmen from 60 top Italian companies who are looking for investment and cooperation opportunities in Vietnam.

The exchange of high-ranking delegations between the two countries showed Italian’s attention to Vietnam, he said, adding that the official signing of the EVFTA would stimulate economic, trade, and investment relations between the EU and Vietnam as well as between Italy and Vietnam.